Pogonophobia (n): Fear of beards
I am saddened to report that beard profiling - just like racial - is alive and well in the world. Not that this should come as any surpise with numerous haters of beards out there, but it is rather shocking that some are beginning to associate 'beards' with 'evil.' In addition, it's one thing to have a phobia... but it's quite the other to discriminate against the scruff.
Here are some highlights taken from The Guardian article above (which you should read in full):
Reporter's admission:
My pogonophobia possibly stems from my own inability to grow one – it is well nigh impossible to tell if I have not shaved for three weeks or three months – but, at least in the case of Islam, beards and bigotry do often seem to go together.
Further down in article:
I don't want to tar all beardies with the extremist tag, but among Muslims possession of a big beard does seem a prerequisite to being able to rant and rave against the evil heathens of the west.
I just took one look at his beard, feared the worst and did a fast one.
Hair is hair... is it not? This type of facial hair profiling... which we danced around in December when we mentioned Bank of America's odd beard policy (i.e. you cannot grow one) seems to be a bit outdated for 2010. What's that song - free your mind, and the rest will follow? (Yes, I just referenced En Vogue).
Help this kid not fear the beard: